Rail-bond.



N0. 687,09I. yPatented Nov. I9, |90I.,

C. WALTHER.

RAIL BOND.

A(Appncfmm ined June 27, 1900.)

ltty.

Carl althew^- web thereof.

UNITED STATES I )ATEmv OFFICE.

CARL IVALTHER, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC vCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,091, datedNevemberie, 1901..

Application filed @neef/,1900.

To tu whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, CARLWAL'rHER, ak `subject of the Emperor ofGermany,'residing at Berlin, Germany,have invented certain new and`useful Improvements inv Rail- Bonds, (Case No. 1,677',) of which the'following is a specification.`

This invention relates to connectors or bonds for electric conductorsdesigned with' especial reference to railroad-rails, but not limited inapplication to such use.

The object of the invention is to providea durable bonding device whichwill aord ample carrying'capacity between adjacent rails for theelectric current. n, v Figure l is a vertical section of a railV and abonding device inserted in a hole in the Fig. -2 is a side elevation ofa part adapted to be inserted in the rail-web, to which part the ends ofthe bonding-con ductor are adapted" to be connected. Fig. 3 is an endelevation of the part shown in Fig'. 2. Fig. 4 is a plug adapted to beinserted in the longitudinal hole H of the part shown in Figs. 2 and 3,and Figs. 5 and 6 are perspecf tive views showing adjacent'rails'withthe bonding device attached.. v

The part which is adapted to be inserted in the rail-Web is indicatedbythe lettersPS and may be called a plug-socket, as it has a central holeor perforation H, 'adapted to re-` ceive the plug U. (Shown in Fig. 4.)Each plug-socket is composed of some pliant conducting metal, such "ascopper or Zinc, so that it may be compressed against the hole in therail-web. If zinc is used, there will be practically no electrolysis,since its electrochemical properties are nearly the same as those ofsteel. In some cases it may be preferred to use copper, the .same metalas that of which the bonding-conductor is composed. Each plug-socket isprovided .with a iiange F to limit its passage through the hole in therailweb. There are also formedjin the external lateral surface of eachsocket several grooves G of suitable size for the reception of strandskS of a copper or other suitable bonding-conductor B. As shown in Fig. 3,the portion of the socket which comprises the wall of the hole H isdivided into sections C inforder thatthe socket can be forced againstthe rail.

serein No. 21,719. (No motel.)

` This' may be in addition tothe compressibil? ity of the pliant metalorA may be .adoptedinA case a rigid metal is used. After the sockets PSare inserted in the holes in therail-.web, theends of the strands Sbeinginserted inl the grooves G, theplug U, of steel ork other'suit`able metal, is driven .into the hole H, whereat the sections lC oftheywall of 'the hole H arey f e forced outward against the wall of thchole linl the rail-Web, and vthe yielding copper or zinc or othersuritablemetal of which the,- i

socket is composed is compressed against the strands S and against therail itself,.and the strands are also pressed against the rail. Thegrooves G being originally of justksufiicient Asus'l size to permit. theinsertion of the strands S l are contracted, so that thek strands S aretightly inclosed, and it is practically impossible for vmoisture toenter in.y .This reducesthesliability of electrolytic action, even incase a copper plug-socket vis used; The en? tire contacts of the strandsand the socket with therail and of ',thelstrands Vwith `the* I socketthus provide joint'swith very little resistance. f

In Fig. 5 the bonds arefshown in place, the

fishplate being removed. As shown in.y this 'gure, the free ends ofthestrands H are bent over the flanged end of the socket in order tofurther guard against their withdrawal from thelgrooves by expansion.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure 1. A rail-bond, Whichcomprises conducting parts, each of which is adaptedtobe inserted in ahole in the rail, and to be forced against 7 the walls of the hole; abonding-conductor,

each endof which is placed between a rail` Y e andone of the conductingparts; and relatively rigid parts, each `of which is adapted to forceone of'the conducting-pieces into inthe walls of the hole and each ofwhich is provided with a hole, the wall of which is di videdintosections; a bonding-conductor, each end of which is placed between arail and one of the conducting parts; and relatively rigid parts, eachof which is adapted to force one of the conducting-pieces into intimatecontact with the rail and the end of the bondingconductor.

3. A rail-bond, which comprises plu g-sockets of conducting metal, eachof which is formed with a longitudinal hole and is adapted to beinserted in a hole in the rail, and toi be forced against the Walls of.the hole; a bondingconductor, each end of which is placed between arail and a plug-socket; and relatively rigid plugs, each of which islarger than the hole in a plug-socket, and each of which is driven intothe hole in a socket, to force the socket into intimate contact with therail and with the end of the bonding-conductor.

,4. A rai1-bond,'which comprises plug-sockets of conducting metal, eachof which is formed with longitudinal grooves in its external surface andwith a longitudinal hole, and is adapted to be inserted in ahole in arail, and tohe forced against the Walls of the hole; a strandedbonding-conductor, the ends of the strands of which are placed in thegroovesl in said plug-sockets; and relatively rigid plugs, which arelarger than the holes in the plugsockets, and each of which is driveninto the hole in a socket to force the latter into inlimate contact withthe wall'of the hole in a rail, and with the ends of thebonding-conductor strands.

5. A rail-bond, which comprises plug-sockets of conducting metal, eachof which is formed with a longitudinal hole, the wall of vwhich isdivided into sections, each plugsocket being formed also withlongitudinal grooves in its external surface and being adapted to beinserted in a hole in a rail, and to be forced against the walls of suchhole, a Stranded bonding-conductor, the endsof the strands ofwhich areplaced in the grooves of said plug-sockets; and relatively rigid plugswhich are larger than the holes in the plugsockets, and each of whichplugs is driveninside the hole in a socket to force the sections of thewall of the socket into intimate contact with the wall of the hole inthe rail and with the strands of the bonding-conductor.

6. A railbond,which comprises conducting parts, each of which is adaptedto be inserted in a hole in a rail; a bonding-conductor, each endofwhich is placed between a rail and one of the conducting parts; andrelatively rigid parts, each of which is adapted to force one of theconducting-pieces into intimate contact with its rail and the end of thebonding-conductor.

7. Aral-bond, which comprises a stranded bonding-conductor, the ends ofwhich are inserted in holes inthe webs of the rails, and each strand ofwhich ends is pressed into intimate contact with the rail.

8. A rail-bond, which comprises conducting-pieces adapted to be insertedin holes in the rail-webs; a stranded bon ding-conductor, the ends ofwhich are inserted in the holes in the rail-webs between the rail andone of said conducting-pieces; and means whereby said pieces are pressedagainst said strands and against the rails.`

Arail-hond, which comprises a bondingconductor, plug-sockets ofconducting metal, each of which is formed with a longitudinal hole, thewall of which is divided into sections, and with which sockets the endsof 'the bonding-conductor have intimate" electrical Contact; and plugswhich are larger than the holes in each pliig-'sohet,eacl1ot which plugsis driven into the hole in a socket to spread the sections of' thel wallof the hole inthe socket, and force them into intimate Contact with therail. 4"

10- Arai1-b0nd,vhih comprisesabondnsconductor, plug-,sockets of pliantconducting metal, each" of which is formed with a longitudinal hole, thewall of which is'divided into sections, and with which plug-sockets theends of the bonding-'conductor have intimate electrical contact;` andplugs which are `larger than'the holes in each ping-socket, each ofwhich plugsis driven into the holeof a socket inserted iliit'rail-web,to spread the sections of the wan of the hole in the socket, andpompress them against'the 'wall of the hole in the rail-web.

`In witness .whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11th' day oflUnire, 1900."

CARL WALTHER.

Witnesses HENRY HASPER, i WOLDEMAR HAUPT.

